Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS079

Location

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3020098, 40.2914143
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S078)

Three children were reported by a single source as having been killed during an overnight coalition airstrike on a Daesh checkpoint at the town of Kheshan. However local sources said the attack was the work of the Syrian regime.

A man named as Abu Mohammed, said to be one of the relatives of the dead, told Sound And Picture that the coalition no longer appeared to be taking as much care in preventing civilian casualties: “The organization [Daesh] uses as its HQ buildings among civilians – but is that the civilians’ fault? Why are they being killed because of Daesh?

A Facebook page run by Dayr az Zawr residents also said three children had died – but attributed the attack to aircraft from the Assad regime.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
3
3 Children

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention that the airstrike hit a “Daesh checkpoint and a house” “overnight” in the village of Khusham (خشام), Deir Ezzor, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.3020098, 40.2914143

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Khusham, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
No coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Dayr az Zawr between June 12th-14th 2015.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-07-26
Original Source
After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed